Category: The Industry
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How Casting Directors Cast in Voice, Stage and Screen
Spotlight’s Industry Forum provided an insight into the casting process and answered those burning questions about street casting, Spotlight searches, and how to help ‘unknown’ actors stand out. You’re finding the piece of the jigsaw to fit into somebody else’s picture. Dave Peacock The panel, formed of casting directors Dave Peacock (voice), Aisha Bywaters (screen) and Ellie Collyer-Bristow (stage),…
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Devising Comedy with Just These, Please
Getting into comedy with Just These, Please! Just These, Please talk to us at Spotlight about devising comedy and working as performers. We discuss side gigs, getting started in comedy, developing your own show, and more! The Just These, Please performers were kind enough to host a session at our last Open House on devising…
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Maureen Hughes on Casting RTE’s ‘Taken Down’
Our interview with casting director Maureen Hughes on her latest casting challenge: RTE’s Taken Down – including how she found unrepresented talent via Spotlight! Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE)’s newest drama series Taken Down reunites the creative team behind the hugely successful gangland drama Love/Hate, joined by best-selling novelist Jo Spain. Love/Hate ran for 5 series…
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Brexit and the Performing Arts: What Can You Do to Prepare?
Brexit is approaching… Luna Williams of the Immigration Advice Service gives us insight on what we can do now to prepare. Read our updated guidance on working and auditioning in the EU of you’re a UK National. Published: October 2018 The easy exchange of talent, experiences and ideas has always been central to the performing arts…
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Creating Accessible Theatre with Paines Plough and Robert Softley Gale
What does ‘accessibility’ mean for theatre-making today? James Grieve and Charlotte Walton talk to us about how Paines Plough integrate accessibility into their production ethos and the Roundabout venue. Scottish theatre-maker Robert Softley Gale of Birds of Paradise talks to us about what accessibility really means, and how access can be integrated into a script.…
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Vinay Patel on Writing for Stage and Screen
Vinay Patel, writer for stage and screen, talks to Spotlight about the differences between each medium and why actors make for great writers… I think actors are the best writers because they’re trained with looping emotional arcs… there is that natural instinct of creating narrative. Vinay Patel BAFTA nominated writer Vinay Patel shares his insights…
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How to Have a Long Career as an Actor
A long and successful career as a performer requires a few key ingredients… Here’s some key advice from the industry, including Imelda Staunton, Alex Jennings and Josette Simon Wondering how to achieve longevity in your career? Our latest video explores the things you need to have a long and successful career as a performer. Always keep…
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On Becoming a Theatre Director with Gareth Nicholls of Traverse
Gareth Nicholls (Associate Director of Traverse) talked to Spotlight all about his road to becoming a theatre director, tackling tough contemporary issues and what he looks for in new writing… [Collaboration is] trusting that the actors you have are absolutely the best actors for the job and that they are experts in their craft, just as much…
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How to Prepare Safely for Intimate Scenes
Ita O’Brien asks, “How do you navigate the intimate and sexual content serving the director’s vision while keeping you safe?” There is a fine line between being open or being vulnerable; the shift can happen in a moment. This work demands vigilance, presence and mindfulness in order to stay on the right side of doing…
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Don’t Just Be Reasonable: How to Integrate Disabled Performers
Don’t just be “reasonable” says Amelia Cavallo, dissecting the steps you need to consider to create truly inclusive work on stage [In the Equalities Act] there is one sticky phrase, which is “reasonable accommodation”… The problem with this phrase is that there is nothing specific about what is considered reasonable and what isn’t. This makes…